How to add a page to the Xiaomi Redmi desktop

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones running MIUI or HyperOS offer users huge personalization options. One of the most popular actions is to create quick access to frequently visited sites. This allows you to turn the web resource into a full-fledged application that runs in one click directly from the home screen, a feature that is especially relevant for services that do not have a native application on Google Play, or for those who prefer to save internal memory of the device.

The shortcut process seems simple, but Xiaomi’s ecosystem has its own nuances, depending on the version of the operating system and the type of browser you use. Standard algorithms may differ depending on whether you use Google Chrome or the built-in Mi Browser. Understanding these differences will help avoid confusion and save time when setting up the interface.

In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can add web pages to your desktop, learn about hidden browser features, ways to bypass security constraints, and customize the widgets you create, and provide guidance for both the new flagships and the Redmi Note series’ budget models.

Features of the MIUI and HyperOS shell with web shortcuts

The MIUI shell, and now the successor to HyperOS, has a strict permission management policy. Android security, coupled with Xiaomi add-ons, requires explicit confirmation of actions that affect the appearance of the desktop, and is designed to protect the user from malware that could quietly fill the screen with junk icons.

Site shortcuts are perceived as separate entities that require certain rights. When you try to create a widget for the first time, the system may request permission to "Add shortcuts to the home screen." If this does not happen automatically, it may have been blocked earlier in the privacy settings, in which case you will need to manually activate the function in the application menu.

⚠️ Note: Some versions of the firmware may not show up immediately after creating the shortcut, due to aggressive memory optimization. Try restarting the device or clearing the launcher cache if the icon does not appear within a minute.

It is important to consider that different versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14) interpret requests for widgets differently. In newer versions of the OS, the process has become more transparent, but an additional confirmation step was added through the pop-up at the bottom of the screen. Ignoring this window leads to the fact that the action is not performed, although the browser visually reports success.

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MIUI and HyperOS systems require explicit permission to modify the desktop, which is often requested when you first attempt to create a shortcut.

Creating a shortcut through Google Chrome on Xiaomi

The most common way is to use Google Chrome, which is pre-installed on Redmi devices and provides the best compatibility with Google services. The algorithm is standardized here, but has its own features of displaying menus on screens with a cutout or hole under the camera.

First, you need to open the landing page. Make sure the site is fully loaded and you are on the version (mobile or full) you want to see in the widget. Then click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the interface. In the list that opens, you need to find the item "Add to the home screen."

Sometimes this item is hidden in an additional menu or renamed depending on the location. If there is no standard item, you can search inside the browser settings. Once you select the function, the system will suggest renaming the shortcut, which is a convenient way to create multiple copies of the same page with different names for quick navigation.

It’s worth noting that web applications built through Chrome can run in isolation mode, which means they won’t have access to some phone features, such as background geolocation or push notifications, unless the site itself requests these rights separately.

Using the built-in Mi Browser for widgets

Xiaomi smartphone owners often use their native browser Mi Browser, which is optimized for shell work. It has built-in ad blocking features and traffic saving mode, making it a popular choice. The shortcut creation process here also has its own peculiarities.

In the bottom toolbar, you need to find a menu icon that usually looks like three horizontal bars or. In the toolbar that opens, you should find the Add button. In some versions of the interface, it is placed in a separate tool tab. Once you click, the system automatically generates the icon and prompts you to place it on the desktop.

The advantage of Mi Browser is deep integration with the theme of the system. Icons created through this browser often fit better into the overall style of wallpaper and MIUI themes than standard Chrome shortcuts. In addition, the browser allows you to create folders for shortcuts of sites directly in its start feed, which serves as an alternative to displaying them on the desktop.

If the automatic add-on didn't work, check the app's permissions. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Mi Browser → Rights. Make sure the permission to "Change Desktop Settings" or similar is activated. Without this right, the browser won't be physically able to put the icon on the screen.

Customization of the appearance of icons and names

Standard website icons often look boring or low resolution, breaking out of the common app range. Android and MIUI don't have a built-in web shortcut icon editor, but there are workarounds. You can change the shortcut name at the time it's created, which is a little bit personalizing the space.

For a full-fledged graphics change, you will need a third-party launcher or shortcut application, such as Shortcut Maker. However, if you want to stay within the standard system, you can use the theme function. Some themes in the MIUI Themes store contain icon sets that replace standard images of web pages with stylized ones.

When you create a label, the system will ask you to enter a name, and you can use special symbols and emoji to visually highlight a category"☁️ Weather" and news site —"📰 News. This helps you navigate your desk more quickly, especially for people with low vision.

A unique feature of the new versions of HyperOS is the ability to dynamically change the icons of widgets, if the site supports PWA (Progressive Web App) technology. In this case, the icon can change color depending on the status of notifications, although this is not supported by all resources.

Solving problems with the lack of an add button

Users often find that the Add to Home screen button is simply not in the browser menu. This can be caused by several factors: First, some sites may block shortcuts from being created through their scripts, although this is rare; and second, the problem may lie in a crowded browser cache.

Try to clear your browser data. Go to Settings → Apps → Chrome → Storage → Clear cache. Don't confuse it with cleaning the data, otherwise you'll lose your saved passwords and history. After cleaning the cache, restart the browser and check for a button. Often this solves the problem of software failures.

Another reason is incognito mode, which is that in this mode, the desktop shortcut creation function is usually blocked for privacy reasons. Step out of incognito mode and the option becomes available. Also make sure there is free space on the desktop; if all the cells are occupied, the system will not be able to accommodate the new item.

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If a shortcut is created but disappears after rebooting, check if Desktop Change Lock mode is enabled. It is in the launcher settings and prevents the icons from being accidentally deleted or added.

In rare cases, updating the Android System WebView component via Google Play helps, which is responsible for displaying web content in applications and correct shortcuts. An outdated version of the component can cause conflicts with new versions of browsers.

The Benefits of Using PWAs Instead of Conventional Labels

Modern web technologies allow websites to function as full-fledged applications, called PWAs (Progressive Web Apps), which, when you add a site to your Xiaomi desktop, behaves differently than a regular shortcut, opens without a browser address bar, looks like a native application, and can work offline.

To install a PWA, it is usually enough to visit the site. The browser will determine its capabilities and offer a button "Install the application" instead of the standard "Add to the home screen." The difference is that the PWA receives a separate process in the system, an icon in the application settings, and may even have its own splash screen when downloaded.

Using PWAs saves a lot of memory, as they don’t contain heavy code for native apps, but only links to web content. For smartphone owners with a small amount of internal memory (32-64 GB), this is a great way to have access to social networks and instant messengers without installing “heavy” official customers.

⚠️ Note: Not all websites are PWA. If the site does not support this technology, the shortcut will simply open the browser tab. Check for the installation icon in the Chrome address bar to make sure the technology is supported.

The table below shows a comparison of the usual label and PWA-applications:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)